Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
The BEST oven-roasted cauliflower and it’s so easy. The flavor and texture are perfect with just some simple seasoning, oil, and butter.
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Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
This baked cauliflower recipe is a go-to side dish like Corn on the Cob and Roasted Brussels Sprouts. It’s a dish you’ll make over and over.
This oven-roasted cauliflower is easy and excellent. The combination of butter and olive oil caramelizes the florets and they are baked to crisp-tender perfection. The best thing about this recipe is that you can customize the seasoning with what you have on hand with great results.
The Best Seasoning for Cauliflower
Cauliflower goes well with just about any seasoning. Even a simple salt and pepper seasoning works well. These are the seasonings we love most:
- Salt – we love fine sea salt
- Black Pepper – freshly cracked
- Garlic Powder – or try garlic salt
- Paprika – adds color and flavor (a little goes a long way)
Can I add cheese? we love to add cheese to cauliflower. Sprinkle cauliflower with 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese in the last 5 minutes of cooking for a parmesan roasted cauliflower.
How to Roast Cauliflower
This roasted cauliflower recipe is so easy to make and uses ingredients you most likely already have on hand
- Preheat the oven to 425˚F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
- Slice the cauliflower into traditional florets or into flat cauliflower steaks.
- Seasoning- Add the cauliflower to the center of your baking sheet, drizzle with oil and butter, and toss to coat. Season the cauliflower and toss again then spread into a single layer.
- Bake cauliflower for 15-20 minutes, or until desired tenderness and golden at the edges. The baking time may vary depending on the size of your pieces.
How to Slice Cauliflower into Steaks: Slice the cauliflower head into 4-5 wedges. Then, cut the wedges into even 1/2″ thick steaks and break them apart into bite-sized pieces. As they are roasted, the flat sides caramelize against the baking sheet adding a depth of flavor. It also results in evenly browned pieces.
How Long to Bake Cauliflower?
The bake time for roasted cauliflower will depend on the size, thickness, and desired doneness of your pieces.
- Smaller pieces – you only need about 15-20 minutes.
- Larger florets – bake 20-25 minutes. Until the cauliflower is caramelized and golden.
Air Fryer Instructions:
Cooking cauliflower in an air fryer is quick and easy. When air frying, I skip the butter and just use 2-3 Tbsp olive oil. Air fry cauliflower at 375˚ for 10-15 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes, until golden and tender.
Make-Ahead
- Meal Prep – you can pre-chop your cauliflower a few days ahead, cover and refrigerate then add seasoning before roasting.
- Refrigerate – once cooled to room temperature, you can cover and refrigerate leftover roasted cauliflower for up to 3 days.
- Reheating – You can reheat the cauliflower on the stovetop, oven, or air fryer just until heated through.
More Side Dish Recipes
If you loved this roasted cauliflower, be sure to try these fail-proof side dish recipes:
- Easy Roasted Carrots
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Vegetable Stir Fry
- Tomato Mozzarella Salad
- Creamy Mushroom Asparagus
Oven Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
The most delicious oven-roasted cauliflower recipe that will become your go-to side dish. Cauliflower florets drizzled in oil and butter and seasoned to perfection.
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower sliced in small florets, or 1/2" thick steaks
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp ground paprika
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper or to taste
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 425˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Slice the head of cauliflower into 1/2" thick steaks, breaking up wedges into even, bite-sized pieces.
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Add the cauliflower to the center of the baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil and melted butter and toss to combine.
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In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, salt, paprika, and pepper for the seasoning. Sprinkle onto caulliflower and toss to evenly coat.
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Spread the cauliflower evenly on the baking sheet and bake at 425˚F for 15-20 minutes, until cauliflower reaches desired crispiness.
Recipe Notes
Bake time will slightly vary depending on the side of your florets or slices.
You may substitute the butter for oil if you don’t want to use any butter.
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Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
This is the only way I will prepare cauliflower from now on. It’s a challenge to find vegetable recipes my grandchildren love, but they sure love this one and so do I!
That’s so awesome! I’m glad you found a new favorite method, Mary!
Delicious! Made it between meetings while working from home. It was the perfect snack. Thanks for always providing great recipes.
Hello Rachel, you are very welcome! I’m glad you loved it, thanks for your good comments and feedback!
If I use my air fryer for the cauliflower, do I use roast or bake?
Thanks. I would like to try it.
Hi Win, we roasted this recipe, but if you’re using an Air Fryer, there should be an air fry setting.
Delicious, my kids said they don’t like cauliflower but when they tried this they wanted more 😋
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great!
Loved this, your recipes are so easy to follow, love your videos, will be doing your velvet cake for Easter, cant wait. Thank you
Thank you for that wonderful feedback, Annette! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
You’re right, my new favorite roasted cauliflower recipe! The combination of olive oil and “butter” made it really special. I did use vegan butter instead of real butter and it tasted great. Thanks for the recipe.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Just took a bite!
Mmmm…
This is yummy 😋
Thank you for the recipe!
You are very welcome, I’m glad you loved it!
i want recipes and also food that make s it a meal, meat plaua side dishes
Hi Jojo, this would pair well with so many different dishes like salmon, chicken, steaks, and pork tenderloin. You can see all of our main course dishes here.
Natasha you are the best enjoying your shows
Aww, I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe, Helen!
Your recipes are absolutely helpful in making my decision for the next meal keep them coming
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for this wonderful comment!
Making this tonight, its my side to go along with my meatloaf.
Supper is going to be good tonight!!!
Yum! That sounds like the perfect dinner! I’m so glad you enjoyed that.
Thank you, Natasha! This cauliflower recipe is terrific. I recently found you on FaceBook and am mesmerized by your videos. They are always so fun!
Thank you.
You are very welcome, Carol. Thank you too for your support, I’m glad you’re enjoying my recipes!
Thank you for the great recipes for vegetables love your recipes
You are very welcome, Theresa!
Looks amazing! Thank you! I live your recipes! I think I might have to make this tonight. Now to go thru your recipes to see what to have with it. 🙂
It is so good! I can’t wait for you to try it!
I made this and it was awesome! I added a little cheese and it was great!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent! Perfect! I threw in asparagus and some shredded cheddar as well.
Yum! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Thanks Natasha for posting this. I’ve been fixing cauliflower like this for some time now and it’s always tasty and easy. Just the kind of recipe I like esp. on busy days!
Thank you for sharing that, Connie!
Can I eliminate the butter and not substitute more oil? Trying to cut down on the fat content.
Hi Mary, yes that would still work great to make it lower fat.
Actually made this for lunch. Ate too much. It is very good.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Can I use this with broccoli as well, or is it only good for cauliflower?
Hello Jan, I haven’t really tested that to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes!
Hello! I would love to try this! When I roast cauliflower I usually season it with lemon, parsley, and capers. So good, i strongly suggest you try it! Thank you for all of your amazing recipes!
Yum! That sounds amazing, Tiana! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Wow! Thanks for the recipe. Please share more. Thanks
You’re welcome! I hope you give this one a try!
This was such a rich twist on roasted cauliflower. The butter made it sooo good!
I’m so glad you loved it! Yeah the butter is optional but definitely nice!
Yummy! This looks so delicious and I’m so glad I found this! I can’t wait to give this a try! So excited!
Thank you Beth! I hope you love this cauliflower recipe.
My son has a hard time eating veggies but he doesn’t mind when they are roasted! I’m so glad I found this recipe since this is how he’ll eat his cauliflower!
Wonderful! I’m so glad your son loved the roasted cauliflower.